Apparatus for environmental leaching testing

Abstract

An apparatus used to separate solid-phase materials from rinse water containing soluable constituents dissolved from rock or ore bodies by percolation of water therethrough is described. The apparatus includes an upper funnel and a bottom receptacle as well as a central passage member disposed therebetween. The upper funnel includes a perforated bottom and a central standpipe. The bottom receptacle includes a pair of vacuum tubes. The central member includes a plurality of filter members. When in use, filtration through some or all of the filters can be aided by applying a suction to the vacuum tubes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for separating solids from an effluent, said apparatus comprising in combination: an upper receiver having a substantially flat base to provide for free-standing and having an open top, a generally upright cylindrical receiver sidewall, a perforated plate secured at its perimeter to a bottom portion of the receiver sidewall, and a standpipe secured at one end to the perforated plate and projecting generally upwardly therefrom;   a bottom receptacle having a closed bottom, an open top, a generally upright cylindrical receptacle sidewall, and a passage means for connection to a vacuum means, and creating a communicating passage between the vacuum means and the interior of the bottom receptacle;   an intermediate coupler, first means for removably securing the intermediate coupler to the bottom portion of the upper receiver, and second means for securing the intermediate member to a top portion of the bottom receptacle so that the intermediate member forms a communicating passage between the upper receiver and the bottom receptacle;   said intermediate coupler including a filter supporting base, said first means supporting said filter supporting base and said perforated plate in generally parallel and spaced apart relation when the intermediate coupler is secured to said upper receiver whereby said filter supporting base, coupler and perforated plate define a chamber, with said standpipe open to said chamber; and   a first filter, removably supported on said filter supporting base, for substantially preventing the flow of a rinsing liquid by gravity from said chamber to said bottom receptacle, but readily permitting the passage of a liquid responsive to the application of a vacuum through said passage means to at least partially evacuate said bottom receptacle.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 also including a removable standpipe cap for selectively blocking the passage of air through the standpipe so that the application of a vacuum also assists filtration through the perforated plate of the upper receiver when said cap closes off said standpipe. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means for securing said intermediate coupler to the upper receiver includes: a cylindrical collar projecting downwardly from the bottom portion of the receiver sidewall, said collar having internal threads; and   an upper cylindrical portion of the intermediate coupler having exterior threads intended to mate with the internal threads of the cylindrical collar.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second filter surrounding the standpipe and supported by the perforated plate. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a cover for environmental control, said cover including an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe for permitting flow of gasses, said cover being constructed such that it is capable of a completely covering said open top of said upper receiver. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the bottom portion of said receiver side wall compriss a frustro-conical wall portion projected downwardly and inwardly from the remainder of said receiver sidewall.